Student AFB rejects College Republicans Club’s funding request; cites forged signature

The student Activity Fee Board recommended that Student Senate not fund the College Republicans Club for academic year 2015-16 after the board received a complaint about a forged signature on the club’s budget request packet.

At Monday’s Student Senate meeting, Kelley McNabb, co-chair of AFB and CAB vice chair of finance, told the Senate that the board was made aware of a forged signature on the College Republicans Club’s budget request packet. That information led the AFB to reject the club’s $3,000 request, and recommend to Senate that the club receive no funding.

“The board did what they thought was best,” McNabb said Wednesday. “The board received a complaint of a forged signature, and then decided what to do.”

McNabb also said that the board alerted administrators about the issue and added that two administrators, Senate Adviser Deena Kennell and Senior Director of Student Affairs Pat Beu, were present at the club’s appeal hearing Monday afternoon before Student Senate’s 5 p.m. meeting.

Wednesday afternoon, Beu said he could not give any information about how the administration will respond.

During the Senate meeting, McNabb said that “the club only has three active members.” She said Wednesday, the club’s budget packet states 20 members. Luton said Wednesday the club has about 20 members.

College Republicans Club President Marci Luton, junior of Grand Island, said she could not comment about whether club members knew a signature was forged when the budget packet was submitted to AFB.

“Unfortunate circumstances led to unfortunate decisions which led to consequences of which the College Republicans Club will abide by,” Luton stated in an instant message Wednesday.

“A mistake was made during the budget packet process and it was corrected,” Student Trustee and College Republicans Club Secretary Mikayla Gallagher stated Tuesday, also in an instant message.

Senate is expected to vote at it’s next meeting Monday on AFB’s recommendations.